United Methodist Church

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1 United Methodist Church Newsletter November 2018 Pastor: Rev. Mark Whitley Administrative Council Chair: Steve Leslie Lay Leader: Dolly Kirk Trustee Chairperson: Ray Roberts Office Hours: Monday thru Thursday 9:00 am - 3:00 pm Church Office Closed Friday Meadowcreek UMC will host our annual Neighborhood Thanksgiving Meal on Thanksgiving Day from 11:00 1:00 for those who may not have family or the means to share the holiday. It s one way that we can minister to our world and be an example of Jesus in practice. We will serve turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, green beans, beverages & desserts will be served free of charge to all who want to attend. Volunteers, on Wednesday, November 21st from 10:00 1:00 we will prepare and cook the meal at the church kitchen and will also use this time to set-up tables and chairs. And, on Thursday, November 22nd from 10:00 1:00 we will warm up the meal, set-up a buffet line, serve the food, interact with our neighbors, and then clean-up. You don t need to be there the whole time as you may have your own dinner around this time. But, if you can come up for an hour anytime from 10:00-1:00 it would be appreciated. Thanksgiving Blessings to All East 146th St. North Collinsville, OK (918)

2 Greetings in the name of The Risen Christ! We had an amazing Trunk or Treat and Halloween fun house last night! Thanks to Darren Johnson and all the volunteers who showed up for such a fun evening. I m quite sure we had people come through the church and about $175 was raised for youth missions through the fun house! The weather forced all events into the church, but frankly, if it was up to me, we would have Trunk or Treat inside the church every year. We had a lot more interaction with the children and families, mostly because we could really see each other indoors, rather than being in the dark outside. And there is always value from an evangelism standpoint to get folks in the church who normally would never step foot inside. Ours is a beautiful church; Susan Worstell made sure the sanctuary was beautifully lighted and a number of folks came inside the sanctuary and sat in its quiet beauty. Maybe they were resting; maybe they were praying. Regardless, it gave the Holy Spirit a moment to do what the Holy Spirit does which is to offer love, grace, and peace. Why would we not want folks to benefit more fully from the church building? Never underestimate the place our beautiful church building and sanctuary has in being its own tool of evangelism! But now everything seems to shift on November 1st, doesn't it? Summer is behind us; we are fully into fall weather cycles. The holiday season is officially here; what I love most (besides all the food) is that this is the season for reflection, for family, for gift-giving, but mostly because it is the season for giving thanks. And for the faithfulness of our church, your pastor gives thanks! We have been in a season of generosity and growth in spirit, and even a small measurable growth in numbers. We don t always see our growth in worship attendance, but there has been growth in new ministries, growth in service, and growth in giving. Thanks to your generosity, and due to the financial leadership of our church, even with an aggressive growth budget this year, we are projecting that our expenditures will come in under budget and our giving is projected to be in excess of $10,000 over expenses. Having a bit of a cushion going into a new fiscal year is always helpful to churches. As we enter the season of giving thanks, I look forward to our annual All Saints Day worship service on Sunday, November 4th. This Sunday we also begin our annual series on generosity and giving as part of our spiritual growth. Our financial pledges for 2018 will be turned in on Sunday, November 25th. For 2017, our adult members pledged almost $249,000 toward the general budget, plus an additional $1800 for special missions, etc. I am looking forward to counting the money in the giving box the children and youth have been contributing over the last year! They pledged $258 in I suspect there is substantially more than $258 dollars in the box. I believe our children and youth (and many of our adults) will be delightfully surprised by the giving total this year. This will challenge them to give even more next year! Thank you for your continued generosity in your prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness. In Christ, Pastor Mark 2

3 Saving Graces On October 29 th, Susan and I attended a community memorial service at the Congregation B'nai Emunah, one of two Jewish synagogues here in Tulsa. She and I went representing Christian clergy as a show of solidarity against the unceasing violence committed in houses of worship here in the US. The memorial service was for the 11 members of the Tree of Life Synagogue n Pittsburgh who were murdered by a white bigot who cried Death to all Jews as he fired his automatic weapon. The following is a Jewish parable about life and death. It bears reading in these days of tragedy. Mark Whitley A Mother s Parable by Temple Baily The young mother set her foot on the path of Life. Is the way long? she asked. And her Guide said, Yes, and the way is hard. And you will be old before you reach the end of it. But the end will be better than the beginning. But the young mother was happy, and she would not believe that anything could be better than these years. So she played with her children, and gathered flowers for them along the way, and bathed with them in the streams, and the sun shone on them, and life was good, and the young mother cried, Nothing will ever be lovelier than this. Then night came with the storm, and the path was dark, and the children shook with fear and cold, and the mother drew them close and covered them with her mantle. And the children said, Oh, Mother, we are not afraid, for you are near, and no harm can come. And the mother said, This is better than the brightest of days, for I have taught my children courage. And the morning came and there was a hill ahead, and the children climbed and grew weary. And the mother was weary, but at all times she said to the children, A little patience and we are there. So the children climbed, and when they reached the top they said, We could not have done it without you, Mother. And the mother, when she lay down that night, looked up at the stars and said, This is a better day than the last, for my children have learned fortitude in the face of difficulty. Yesterday I gave them courage. Today I have given them strength. And the next day came strange clouds that darkened the earth clouds of war and hate and evil, and the children groped and stumbled. And the mother said, Look up! Lift your eyes to the light. And the children looked and saw above the clouds an Everlasting Glory, and it guided them beyond the darkness. And that night the mother said, This is the best day of all, for I have shown my children God. And the days went on, and the months and the years, and the mother grew old, and she was small and bent. But her children were strong and tall and walked with courage. And when the way was hard, they helped their mother; and when the way was rough they lifted her, for she was as light as a feather; and at last they came to a hill, and beyond the hill they could see a shining road and golden gates flung wide. And the mother said, I have reached the end of my journey. And now I know that the end is better than the beginning, for my children can walk alone, and their children after them. And the children said, You will always walk with us, Mother, even when you have gone through the gates. And they stood and watched her as she went on alone, and the gates closed after her. And they said, We cannot see her, but she is with us. A mother like ours is more than a memory. She is a living presence. 3

4 October Communion "Lean on God (me)" 2nd Service On October 18th for the Pastor's children's moment - there were no children in attendance so these adults came forward! It was awesome!! And the pastor shared his socks 4

5 Pastor Mark presenting lay training certificates to Marie Lohman, Julianne and David Hayes Pre-K through 3rd grade Sunday school class made dog treats this past Sunday. They handed them out to the fur friends at Trunk or Treat & the remaining were handed out by the Pet Ministry at the mobile food bank November 6,

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7 As the holidays approach, perhaps someone you know could use a hug from a cuddly teddy bear. Becky s Bears ministry would love to send a bear to anyone you know who may be going through a difficult time. Holidays can be hard for anyone who has lost a loved one, or someone who is ill, or lonely, or going through any difficult time in their lives. Sending a bear is free and it comes with a poem written by Carol Matthews, an appropriate bow or embellishment, and a note card which lets them know we are praying for them and also the history of Becky s Bears. We have a sign up sheet in the foyer. Just print your name and phone number and I will call you to get the details. Thank you for supporting this ministry and may the bears bring comfort, peace and love to all recipients. Blessings, Lynn Tyler 7

8 November / December 2018 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat November 25 November 26 November 27 November 28 November 29 7:00 PM Ladies Night Out Nov. 30 December 1 9:30 AM Noon Pet Photos with Santa December 2 8:30 AM Traditional Worship Service 9:45 AM Sunday School 10:50 AM Contemporary Worship Service 2:00 4:00 PM Advent Workshop 4:00 PM Weekly Youth Event 4:00 PM Trustees Meeting December 9 8:30 AM Traditional Worship Service 9:45 AM Sunday School 10:50 AM Contemporary Worship Service 4:00 PM Weekly Youth Event December 16 8:30 AM Traditional Worship Service 9:45 AM Sunday School 10:50 AM Contemporary Worship Service 3:00 PM Meadowcreek Children s Christmas Program December 3 6:30 PM Boy Scout Meeting December 10 6:30 PM Boy Scout Meeting December 17 6:30 PM Boy Scout Meeting December 4 5:30 PM Hooks & Needles 6:30 PM Cub Scout Meeting December 11 5:30 PM Hooks & Needles 6:30 PM Cub Scout Meeting December 18 5:30 PM Hooks & Needles 6:30 PM Cub Scout Meeting December 5 December 6 9:30 AM Prayer Group Meeting 9:30 AM Adult Bible Study 6:15-7:30 PM Wed. Night Sun. School 7:00 PM Praise Band Practice with Mary Odom 7:00 PM Admin. Council Mtg. 6:30 PM Choir Practice 6:30-7:30 PM Youth Group Bible Study December 12 December 13 9:30 AM Prayer Group Meeting 9:30 AM Adult Bible Study 6:15-7:30 PM Wed. Night Sun. School 7:00 PM Praise Band Practice with Mary Odom 6:30 PM Choir Practice 6:30-7:30 PM Youth Group Bible Study December 19 December 20 9:30 AM Prayer Group Meeting 6:15-7:30 PM Wed. Night Sun. School with Mary Odom 6:30 PM Choir Practice 6:30-7:30 PM Youth Group Bible Study 9:30 AM Adult Bible Study 7:00 PM Praise Band Practice 7:00 PM Finance Meeting December 7 December 8 11:00 AM Collinsville Christmas Parade December 14 December 15 Joy of Christmas program & gift distribution All invited December 21 December 22 December 23 8:30 AM Traditional Worship Service 9:45 AM Sunday School 10:50 AM Contemporary Worship Service 4:00 PM Weekly Youth Event December 24 7:00 PM Christmas Eve Candlelight Service December 25 Merry Christmas December 26 December 27 December 28 December 29 (office closes at noon) December 30 December 31 New Year s Eve (office closes at noon) (office closed) January 1, 2019 Happy New Year (office closed) Isabella Brewer 11/02 Ken Yount 11/07 Allan Wilson 11/08 Beth Gatlin 11/13 Carolyn Sanford 11/16 Kristle Patete 11/20 November Brenna Schubert 11/20 Melissa Roberts 11/22 Jordon McVicker 11/25 Brycen Baker 11/26 Angie Shoulders 11/28 Tressa Osborn 11/29 Debbie Phelps 12/05 Mike Rush 12/09 Lori Harman 12/10 Lon Harvey 12/11 Richard Frazier 12/13 Daniel Straight 12/16 December Brooke Paul 12/19 Gabriel Houts 12/20 William Winchester 12/22 Ryan Shoulders 12/23 Danielle Johndrow 12/26 If your birthday does not appear on this list of church members, please contact the church office, and we ll be sure to add you to the list for next year! 8